William & Mary
William & Mary is the nation's second-oldest college, a small, close public Ivy whose brick campus opens right onto Colonial Williamsburg and Merchants Square. First-years live in a mix of historic Old Campus halls around the Sunken Garden and newer air-conditioned buildings along Jamestown Road, moving in by appointment in late August. It's coastal Virginia — hot, humid late summers, a lovely fall, and a mild but real winter.
What to wear in Williamsburg, month by month
The national lists assume everyone needs a winter coat. Here the real questions are heat, sun, and rain — plus clothes for buildings kept ice-cold against it.
| Move-in (late Aug) | 70–90°F | Hot and humid Tidewater heat. A fan is essential in the older, un-air-conditioned halls; pack light clothes. |
| Sept–Oct | 55–82°F | Warm easing into a beautiful, crisp fall. A light jacket and a few sweaters. |
| Nov–Dec | 38–60°F | Cool and damp toward finals. A warm coat and a rain jacket. |
| Jan–Feb | 30–50°F | A chilly but mostly mild winter, with the occasional snow. A real coat and gloves. |
| Mar–May | 45–78°F | Mild, blooming spring with spells of rain. Layers and an umbrella. |
What William & Mary lets you bring
- A box or tower fan — several historic first-year halls are not air-conditioned
- A surge protector (extension cords and multi-plug adapters are banned)
- A rain jacket and umbrella for the humid, showery Tidewater seasons
- Twin XL bedding (confirm your specific hall)
- UL/ETL power strip with a built-in circuit breaker — not a bare extension cord
- Damage-free wall hangings like Command strips — no nails or screws
- Low-draw LED desk and task lamps
- A fan, a reusable water bottle, and UL-listed electronics
- Open-coil / open-flame cooking: toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, electric grills, sandwich makers
- Candles, incense, wax warmers, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps
- Extension cords without a breaker; outlet splitters and multi-plug adapters
- Space heaters and personal A/C units (unless your school provides/approves them)
- Hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and other e-mobility devices
- Weapons of any kind — including decorative — and fireworks
- Microwaves in student rooms — use the hall kitchen microwaves
- Extension cords and multi-plug adapters of any kind
- Air fryers, hot plates, toaster ovens, George Foreman grills, and other open-element cookers (kitchen use only)
- Candles, incense, and any open flame
These come from William & Mary's official housing pages and cover the essentials plus the genuinely local rules. Double-check the current official guidance before you buy — policies and renovations change every year.
Getting your room at William & Mary
- 01Spring/summer
Complete the housing contract
First-years are required to live on campus. Submit the housing contract and preferences; Residence Life assigns your hall and roommate.
- 02Summer
Get your assignment
You'll receive your residence hall, room, and roommate over the summer through the housing portal.
- 03Early August
Get your CSU mailbox number
New students are assigned a unique CSU (campus mailbox) number in the first or second week of August — find it on your housing portal homepage. You need it for any mail or package.
- 04Late August
Move in by appointment
First-years check in by a pre-arranged, confirmed move-in appointment — you can't move in without one. Arrive at your scheduled time; it's hot and humid, so hydrate.
Where you'll live at William & Mary
First-year residence halls
First-years live on campus and are placed across two clusters: the historic Old Campus halls around the Sunken Garden, and the newer air-conditioned halls along Jamestown Road. Air conditioning varies — the older buildings mostly don't have it, while the newest halls are fully conditioned. You get your assignment over the summer.
The classic first-year halls around the Sunken Garden — full of character and location, but mostly without A/C, so bring a fan.
First-year halls in the Green and Gold Village along Jamestown Road, close to dining.
Newer first-year halls along Jamestown Road — Pine (opened 2025) and its neighbors are fully air-conditioned, some with geothermal systems.
DuPont Hall has central air conditioning; the Botetourt Complex adds more first-year rooms near the center of campus.
The William & Mary move-in checklist
Before you order any of this
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Bedding6
Bath5
Laundry4
Storage & organization6
Making it livable6
Desk & study4
Electronics6
Cleaning5
Kitchen — within the rules5
Health & meds4
Clothing — see the seasonal guide8
Move-in day go-bag5
Your items
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Williamsburg logistics, sorted
How to send a package to a W&M student
CSU [####]
200 Stadium Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23185
No microwaves in the rooms
History right out the door
Williamsburg & around
Colonial Williamsburg & Merchants Square
The restored 18th-century town and its shopping-and-dining square sit right at the edge of Old Campus — a daily walk for students.
The Sunken Garden & the Wren Building
The grassy Sunken Garden and the Christopher Wren Building — the oldest college building in continuous use in America.
Busch Gardens & the Historic Triangle
Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, plus Jamestown and Yorktown, are all a short drive away.
New Town & Williamsburg shopping
Target, groceries, and the New Town shops for dorm supply runs a few minutes from campus.
Where to stay near William & Mary
The Griffin Hotel
WalkableA Colonial Williamsburg hotel named for the W&M mascot, in a woodland setting steps from campus — the natural first choice.
Williamsburg Lodge
~0.5 miA warm, family-friendly Colonial Williamsburg hotel by Merchants Square, walkable to campus.
Williamsburg Inn
~0.7 miThe flagship luxury hotel of Colonial Williamsburg — the special-occasion stay near campus.
William & Mary gear & gifts
William & Mary — links & contacts
- Residence Life: Visit page
- Postal Services: Visit page